Meet the Grattan Scholars

Current Scholars

"Child marriage can be seen by parents as a protective measure, providing security for their daughters in times of economic vulnerability. Because of this, in agricultural settings, unfavourable levels of rainfall can increase a girl's likelihood of marriage in childhood. Rainfall can therefore be used as a random cause of child marriage, allowing us to isolate its effects."

Doireann O'Brien is a PhD candidate in Economics, working under the supervision of Professor Nicola Fontana. Her research examines the intergenerational consequences of child marriage, a human rights violation affecting approximately one in five young women alive today. Using novel big data methodologies, she investigates the mechanisms by which child marriage affects not only girls themselves, but also their children's educational attainment and life chances. Doireann holds an MSc in Economics from Trinity and a BA in PPES, both with first class honours.

Grattan Scholars Alumni

Elijah's research explored the consequences of gender and intrahousehold inequality in Sub-Saharan Africa, and ways of mitigating those inequalities. His broader interests spanned gender and labour economics, and he brought many years of experience in development economics in Eastern Africa to his PhD.

Before joining Trinity, Elijah worked as a research associate at BRAC International and Save the Children International. He held a BSc in Applied Statistics from Maseno University and an MSc in Quantitative Economics from Makerere University.

"Conflict and climate-induced forced displacement puts increasing pressure on developed and developing regions. Often communities placed to absorb an arrival of displaced populations are ill-equipped to support the influx both financially and socially. How can already vulnerable societies absorb large numbers of displaced people? Which interventions can work to increase the resilience of both displaced and host populations? How can displaced persons be utilised to improve the economies of their host communities? My research evaluated the impact of support schemes targeting both displaced and host communities in both the developing and developed world."

Michael joined the Economics PhD programme in 2021 under the supervision of Dr Carol Newman and Dr Tara Mitchell. Prior to his PhD, he completed an MSc in Economics at Trinity with distinction, partially funded by the Global Excellence Postgraduate Scholarship. He held a B.Comm from the University of Sydney, where he also worked as a teaching assistant in economics and statistics.

"For successful functioning, members of society must hold themselves and others responsible for their actions. But people are inclined to partially attribute their responsibility to other agents or circumstances when their freedom of choice is limited. My research aimed to create a framework explaining the concept of responsibility distributed among several agents, groups and other external factors, and to develop practical guidelines about how responsibility can be measured."

Victoria joined Trinity as a Grattan Scholar in 2020 under the supervision of Adina Preda, Associate Professor in Philosophy. Her research on distributed responsibility drew on theoretical philosophy, practical philosophy, psychology, and legal theory. Before joining Trinity, Victoria was a research fellow at Saint Petersburg University and an invited lecturer at the National Research University Higher School of Economics in Russia. She held an MA in Philosophy from the University of Tartu and an undergraduate degree in Economics from the National Research University Higher School of Economics.

"My PhD research utilised a novel approach to understanding migrant class and class identities through the lens of translocality — a relatively recent development in social science research that examines how migrants are connected to different geographical spaces such as neighbourhoods, communities, and nations. Using mixed methods, I explored how the translocal context of Filipino migrant nurses in Ireland shaped their lifestyle choices, life chances, and integration."

Arnie joined Trinity as a Grattan Scholar in 2019 under the supervision of Professor Daniel Faas. Before his PhD, he taught at the University of the Philippines Diliman, managed a hospital-based foundation, and worked as a Programme Coordinator and Senior Researcher for the Psychosocial Support and Children's Rights Resource Center in Manila. His research interests included migrant identity, children's rights, and mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies.

"The politics of identity in Northern Ireland remain fraught and complex 25 years on from the Belfast Agreement. My research shed light on how identities are formed and shaped by the rhetoric of political leaders, and whether there is any link between this rhetoric and political violence. The Grattan Scholarship allowed me to extend this research beyond the Northern Irish context, to explore those links in other post-conflict settings and stable western democracies."

Miceal began his PhD in 2018 under the supervision of Dr Gizem Arikan, Assistant Professor in Political Science. Prior to his PhD, he completed an MSc in International Politics at Trinity, graduating with distinction and supported by the North-South Scholarship. His undergraduate degree was in Law at the University of Cambridge. Before returning to academia, he worked for a number of years in international development in London and South Africa.

"In today's increasingly diverse societies, one of the key questions is how to foster the structural integration of immigrants. Education is a critical resource for economic and societal progress — and a crucial factor structuring the life chances of individuals. The Grattan Scholarship gave me an outstanding opportunity to further develop and challenge myself, while contributing to knowledge on a topic of major societal relevance."

Stefanie's PhD examined the school performance of children with a migration background from a comparative and longitudinal perspective. She was supervised by Professor Richard Layte and Dr Jan Skopek in the Department of Sociology. Her primary research interests lay in the integration of immigrants and their descendants, and in prejudice and intergroup relations. Before joining Trinity, Stefanie completed an MSc in Migration, Ethnic Relations and Multiculturalism at Utrecht University, graduating at the top of her class.

"For my first paper, I investigated how moral licensing affects pro-environmental behaviours. The Grattan Scholarship made it possible to study this through a large-scale lab experiment involving hundreds of participants, a level of structured, robust research that would not have been possible without that support."

Stefano joined Trinity as a Grattan Scholar in 2017 to undertake research in energy and environmental economics under the supervision of Eleanor Denny, Associate Professor in Economics. His research examined whether performing a pro-environmental action makes individuals less inclined to engage in further pro-environmental behaviour. Before Trinity, he completed a Masters in Economics at Ca' Foscari University of Venice and spent six months as a visiting student at the University of Copenhagen.

Friedrich's research examined the role and transmission of technology in the economy, encompassing machinery, software, management practices, worker skills, and corporate structure, under the supervision of Professor Carol Newman. His first paper explored the role of firm-level training programmes in worker-embodied technological spillovers in developing countries.

Before joining Trinity, Friedrich completed an MSc in Economics at the London School of Economics through a Commonwealth Scholarship, and a Masters in Economics from Stellenbosch University, where he also received his undergraduate degree in Commerce and Law.

"My research concentrated on topics at the intersection of Labour Economics and Macroeconomics: the impact of labour market polarisation on intergenerational mobility, the role of firms on gender pay gaps, and the interaction between labour market institutions and trade. The Grattan Scholarship enabled me to undertake an internship at the OECD and a research stay at Columbia University under the supervision of Professor Donald Davis."

Jan-Luca joined Trinity as a Grattan Scholar in 2016, researching the causes and consequences of widening income distributions under the supervision of Davide Romelli and Fadi Hassan. His work aimed to advance understanding of income inequality and provide policy recommendations for governments and institutions. Before Trinity, he completed an MSc in Economics from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg and a BSc in International Economics from the University of Tübingen.

"My research investigated broadly the dynamics of city size and their hierarchies, using a unique dataset on city size in Great Britain and Ireland over a hundred years. This allowed me to draw a model of city hierarchy behaviour that helps us understand how larger cities become increasingly larger."

Elisa joined Trinity's PhD in Economics to undertake research in urban development from a historical perspective, supervised by Ronan Lyons, Assistant Professor in Economics. Her research explored the distribution of cities within countries, with a particular focus on Ireland, and within-city dynamics, with Dublin as a case study. Before Trinity, she completed a joint Masters in Mathematical Economics between Paris I and Paris School of Economics, and an undergraduate degree in Economics at Bocconi University in Milan.

"The Grattan Scholarship allowed me to experience rich and exciting PhD studies at Trinity. I completed my first paper on vertical integration and innovation, attended the Barcelona GSE Summer School in Competition Economics and Data Science, and developed research projects during a spring visit to Columbia University as a visiting student under the supervision of Professor Michael Riordan."

Benoit joined the Economics PhD programme to develop analysis of market structure and investment in industrial organisation. His first paper, "Vertical Relations, Integration and Technology Adoption", examined the impact of a market's vertical structure on the speed of technology adoption and innovation, supervised by Francis O'Toole, Associate Professor in Economics. Before joining Trinity, Benoit completed a Masters in Economics and Public Policy at Sciences Po Paris, École Polytechnique and ENSAE. Following his PhD, he joined Compass Lexecon in London as an Economist.

"When I look back at my time as a Grattan Scholar, there are so many great experiences to remember. The most exciting was my ten-month research visit to Harvard University, supervised by one of the leading scholars in International Finance, Professor Carmen Reinhart. I was also invited to speak at the NBER Summer Institute, where I had the opportunity to meet some of the most influential scholars in my field. The PhD could not have ended better."

Katharina joined the Economics PhD programme as a Grattan Scholar in 2015, researching financial globalisation under the supervision of Agustín Bénétrix and Philip Lane. Her research examined the determinants of global imbalances and the macroeconomic effects of capital flows, with a particular focus on fiscal and monetary policy in times of crisis. One of her papers, "International capital flows at the security level - evidence from the ECB's asset purchase programme", received the Best Paper Award from the European Capital Markets Institute. Following her PhD, Katharina joined the Research Department of the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC as an Economist.

"My research examined anti-immigration sentiment in Irish and European contexts using quantitative methods. I also conducted fieldwork aimed at detecting the extent of discrimination towards migrants in the Irish housing market."

Egle joined Trinity's PhD programme as a Grattan Scholar in 2015, researching a dissertation entitled 'All Welcome Here? Studies on Anti-Immigration Attitudes and Discriminatory Behaviour towards Ethnic Minorities in Irish and European Contexts', co-supervised by Dr Peter Mühlau and Professor Richard Layte. During her PhD, she undertook a visiting research placement at the Danish National Centre for Social Research in Copenhagen. Before Trinity, Egle completed a BA in European Studies and an MPhil in International Peace Studies, both at Trinity College Dublin. She subsequently took up a position as Assistant Professor in Sociology at University College Dublin.

Gayane joined the Economics PhD programme to research the Age of Mass Migration and the impacts of migration, under the supervision of Professor Gaia Narciso. Her research matched historical data sources to construct a unique dataset combining individual socio-economic characteristics with migratory behaviour, using the combined records of Irish migrants to the United States to identify the key characteristics of Irish emigration during the Age of Mass Migration. Before joining Trinity as a Grattan Scholar, Gayane completed an MSc in Economics at the University of Bern and an undergraduate degree in Finance at the Armenian State University of Economics. Following her PhD, she took up a postdoctoral research position at the National Research University, Higher School of Economics.

"During my PhD I had incredible opportunities to work with some of the best development economists. I collaborated with United Nations researchers through a PhD internship at the UN's development economics research centre in Helsinki, and consulted the World Bank on a randomised control trial in Senegal. I was also involved in projects across Ethiopia, Kenya, Mexico, and Uganda."

Margaryta's research, supervised by Professor Carol Newman and Professor Gaia Narciso, examined interactions between firms in developing countries and the effects of international trade competition. Her first paper investigated how naming and shaming of child and forced labour affects international trade. Further research examined the effects of trade liberalisation on firm behaviour in Vietnam. Her work appeared at more than fifteen conferences across Europe and beyond, and she served as sole tutor for the Department of Economics' flagship undergraduate Econometrics course, for which she received the Dermot McAleese Teaching Award. Following her PhD, Margaryta joined the University of Oxford's Department of International Development as a Lecturer in Development Economics.

"The Grattan Scholarship enabled me to undertake fieldwork in India for my second PhD paper, in which I examined voter behaviour and government responses based on the visibility of public good provision."

Purnima joined Trinity as a Grattan Scholar in 2014, researching financial and political behaviour in developing countries under the supervision of Michael King, Assistant Professor in Economics. Her first paper examined short-term behavioural changes as a precondition for the success of a financial inclusion scheme in India; her second explored democratic accountability. She also lectured on the Introduction to Economic Policy module for first-year undergraduates. Purnima held an MSc in Economics from the University of Leicester, where she received the best economics student award, and had previously worked as a Research Assistant at Euromoney Institutional Investors in London and as a Research Associate at the Reserve Bank of India in Mumbai.

"During my PhD, I had fantastic experiences that would not have been possible without the Grattan Scholarship. My first paper, on cyclical investment behaviour across financial institutions, was accepted for publication in the Journal of Financial Economics. I also interned at the IMF, spent time as a visiting PhD student at Princeton University, and worked with leading scholars in Financial Economics."

Yannick joined the Department of Economics as a Grattan Scholar in 2014. His research, supervised by Philip Lane and Paul Scanlon, focused on the empirical analysis of the interaction between capital markets and financial stability. During his PhD, he was a visiting researcher at the Deutsche Bundesbank, a consultant to the European Systemic Risk Board, and a summer intern at the IMF. His research was published in leading journals including the Journal of Financial Economics and The Review of Financial Studies. Following his PhD, Yannick secured a place on the IMF's Economist Program in Washington DC, and was subsequently named in the Top 40 Under 40 by German Capital magazine. Before Trinity, he completed a Masters in Economics at Trinity and an undergraduate degree from the University of Düsseldorf.

"My research investigated the experience of women in Irish politics, examining potential sites of resistance to women's participation in political life- during electoral campaigns, at the ballot box, and after their election to Dáil Éireann."

Lisa joined Trinity's PhD programme as a Grattan Scholar in 2013, supervised by Professor Gail McElroy. She co-authored a paper with Professor McElroy entitled 'Who supports gender quotas in Ireland?', published in IPS, the journal of the Political Studies Association of Ireland, and presented her research at a range of European conferences and workshops. Lisa held a BA in Economics and Sociology and an MLitt in Economics, both from Trinity. Following her PhD, she took up a position as Teaching Fellow in Trinity's Department of Political Science.

"My research focused on the consequences of Polish return migration on life trajectories, analysing differences between migrants who remained in their country of migration and those who returned to their country of origin, in order to understand the reasons behind their decisions."

Katarzyna's research was co-supervised by Dr Elaine Moriarty and Dr Peter Mühlau in the Department of Sociology. During her studies, she served as a teaching assistant for the Social Movements and Researching Society modules. Before Trinity, she worked in market research in Germany, Ireland, and Poland, and at the Polish Statistical Office in Kraków. She held an MA in Sociology from Jagiellonian University and a Postgraduate Certificate in Public Relations from Tischner University.

"The aim of my research was to explore why some cities developed as intellectual hubs and produced more eminent thinkers in Western philosophy than others, and to try to quantify what impact physical proximity to those locations had on artistic output."

Alan's research, supervised by Professor John O'Hagan, examined geographic clustering among creative workers. His work led to the co-authored publication "Historical Migration and Geographic Clustering of Prominent Western Philosophers" in Homo Oeconomicus: Journal of Behavioral and Institutional Economics. He served as Teaching Assistant for the Economy of Ireland module for four years, receiving the Dermot McAleese Teaching Award in both 2014 and 2016, and a College Postgraduate Teaching Award in 2015. Alan held a BA in PPES from Trinity and an MSc in Economics from the University of Edinburgh.

"The aim of my research was to examine potential factors outside mainstream topics, such as formal access to credit and education, to determine whether these could assist firms in enterprise development. This is particularly important in a developing country context, where micro-enterprises represent a crucial source of income in the absence of stable waged employment."

Christina was the inaugural Grattan Scholar, joining Trinity in 2012 to research development economics under the supervision of Professor Carol Newman. During her studies, she spent a semester at the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research and went on to co-author chapters in two books on the Vietnamese economy published by Oxford University Press. She also worked as a teaching assistant for first and second-year economics courses. Following her PhD, Christina joined the Central Bank of Ireland, where she continued her research on household access to finance in the Irish mortgage market. Her work has been published in leading journals including the Journal of Banking and Finance.

"My research explored the synergies from geographic clustering of literary artists in historical UK and Ireland, combining elements from cultural economics, urban economics, and economic history to explore how geographic and social factors influence innovation and cultural production. Perhaps more importantly, the Grattan programme established a community of interdisciplinary scholars who support and challenge one another, allowing me not only to engage with talented researchers, but to develop friendships I hope to maintain long beyond college."

Sara was an inaugural Grattan Scholar, undertaking research in cultural economics under the supervision of Professor John O'Hagan. During her studies, she was selected as one of just three young Irish researchers to attend the 5th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting of Economic Sciences, and collaborated with Trinity's School of English to organise a conference on Creative Networks and Cultural Output. Following her PhD, Sara worked as a research associate with the Institute of Public Administration, then joined Indecon International Economic Consultants as a research economist. She subsequently took up a postdoctoral research position at TU Dortmund, where her research has been published in the Journal of Urban Economics.